By-Laws

Article I: NAME

The name of this association is the Springfield Elementary Parent-Teacher Alliance (S.E.P.T.A.).
It is a local organization of parents and teachers.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1. The Objects of the Alliance are:

  • a. To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community.
  • b. To raise the standards of home life.
  • c. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
  • d. To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
  • e. To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth, the highest advantages in physical, mental, and social education.

Section 2. The Objects of this alliance are promoted, through an educational program directed toward parents, teachers, and the general public: are developed through conferences, committees, projects and programs, and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in Article III.

ARTICLE III: BASIC POLICIES

The following are basic policies of this alliance:

  • a. The alliance shall be non-commercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
  • b. The name of the alliance or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the Objects of the alliance.
  • c. The alliance SHALL NOT -directly or indirectly -participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office: or devote more that an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.
  • d. The alliance shall work with the schools to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision making process establishing school policy recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to Boards of Education.
  • e. The alliance may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but persons representing the alliance in such matters shall make NO commitments that bind the alliance.

ARTICLE IV: ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
The articles of the alliance are composed of the Bylaws.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in S.E.P.T.A. shall be made available to any individual, without regard to race, color, creed or national origin under such rules and regulations not in conflict with the provisions of these bylaws.

Section 2. All parents and teachers of S.E.P.T.A. shall be eligible to participate in the business meetings, or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions (see Article IV).

ARTICLES VI: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1. Eligibility for Office:

  • a. Each executive officer of S.E.P.T.A. shall be a member of S.E.P.T.A. at least one year.
  • b. For the office of President, nominee must be an ACTIVE member for at least one (1) year prior to election.

Section 2. Officers and their election:

  • a. The officers of their alliance shall consist of a president, vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.Co-officers may serve in the offices of president and vice-president.
  • b. Officers shall be elected by a show of hands annually in the month of APRIL. However if there is but one nominee for any office, election for that office may be by voice vote.
  • c. Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the meeting in June and shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.
  • d. A person shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 3. Nominating committee:

  • a. There shall be a nominating chairperson who shall be appointed by the alliance at a regular meeting at least one month prior to the elections of officers (February)
  • b. The nominating chairperson shall nominate an eligible person for each office to be filled and report its nominees at the regular meeting in MARCH, at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor. This committee is to be formed at the February meeting.
  • c. Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to
    such office.

Section 4. Vacancies:

  • a. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote, of the executive committee, notice of such election having been given. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of the president, the vice-president shall take over the duties until another president is named. (See Article VI.)

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the alliance of the executive committee: shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to him by the alliance or by the executive committee; and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the alliance in order that the Objects may be promoted.

Section 2. The vice-president shall act as an aide to the president and shall perform the duties o the president in the absence or inability of that officer to act.

Section 3. The secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the alliance and of the executive committee and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her.

Section 4. The treasurer shall have custody of all of the funds for the alliance, shall keep a full a accurate account of receipts and expenditures; and in accordance with the budget adopted by the association shall make disbursements as authorized by the president, executive committee, or alliance. The treasurer shall present a financial statement at every meeting of the alliance and at other times when requested by the executive committee and shall make of full report at the meeting at which new officers officially assume their duties. The treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of such books of account and records as it conforms to the requirements of Article XII, Section 3, of these bylaws. The treasurer's accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor who, satisfied that the treasurer's annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report. The auditor shall be selected by the executive committee at least two weeks before the meeting at which new officers assume duties. This auditing must take place between July 1 and September 1.

Section 5. All officers shall:

  • a. Perform the duties prescribed in the parliamentary authority in addition to those outlined in the bylaws and those assigned from time to time.
  • b. Deliver to their successors all official material not later than ten days following the meeting which new officers assume their duties.
  • c. Any officer shall resign their position at such time as they file or register as a candidate for any elected public position, in order to avoid an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/BOARD

Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the alliance, the chairperson of standing committees, and the principal of the school or a representative appointed by him/her. The chairperson of the standing committees shall be a volunteer from the membership.

Section 2. The duties of the executive committee shall be (a) to transact necessary business in the intervals between alliance meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by alliance; (b) to create standing and special committees; (c) to approve the plans of work of the standing committees (d) to present a report at the regular meeting of the alliance; ( e) to select an auditor to audit the treasurer's accounts; (f) to prepare and submit to the alliance for adoption a budget for the year; and (g) to approve routine bills within the limits of the budget.

Section 3. Regular meetings of the executive committee shall be held during the year, the time to be fixed by the committee at its first meeting of the year. A majority of the executive committee members shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings of the executive committee maybe called by the president or by a majority of the members of the committee.

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS

Section 1. Monthly meetings of this alliance shall be held during the school year. Date of meetings, month and day, shall be determined by the executive committee and announced at the first regular meeting of the year. Seven (7) days notice shall be given of a change of date.

Section 2. Special meetings of the alliance may be called by the president or by a majority of the executive committee seven (7) days notice have been given.

Section 3. The election meeting shall be held in APRIL.

Section 4. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any meeting of this alliance.

ARTICLE X: STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1. Only members of the alliance shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointed positions.

Section 2. The executive committee may create such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the Objects and carry on the work of the a1liance. The term of each chairperson shall be one (1) year or until the election of his/her successor.

Section 3. The chairperson of each standing committee shall present a plan of work, in person or in writing, to the executive committee for approval. Chairperson may send delegate. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive committee.

Section 4. Chairperson should notify executive board, in a timely manner, to add committee issues to agenda for upcoming SEPTA meetings.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines for Hospitality and Appreciation Expenses

Illness- Teachers and Staff (hospital)
$25.00 maximum retirement- Principal, Teacher, Secretary, Faculty- NOT TRANSFERRING
$5.00 per year times number of years of service.
Maximum $100.00Death in immediate family of staff or faculty, immediate family of student.
Maximum $40.00 (with discretion of executive committee)If no option- “In Lieu Of' or if a fund has not been established – A book will be donated to the school library in memory of deceased person. (bookplate in book Donated in memory of___________ by SEPTA dated_____.

Food for Volunteers

Food for volunteers is paid for themselves or is negotiated by fund-raiser chairperson to be paid for by company selected to do fund-raiser.

Volunteers

Volunteers should only be reimbursed for their supplies, not paid for time, because we all are volunteering our time.
Everyone's time is valuable.

Bounced Checks

Strongly recommended that all parents are notified, prior to events (ex. Fund raiser, book fairs etc.) that returned checks and all fees incurred will be the responsibility (paid for by person who written the check) of the writer of the check.

Auditing of the Treasurer's Books

It is strongly recommended that because of the nature of this action (selecting an auditor), the Treasurer should abstain from voting for or against the auditor.

Handling Funds

  • a. Chairperson is responsible for obtaining, reading and understanding the Treasurer's instructions as listed in the Treasurer's book.
  • b. Chairperson is responsible to deposit funds.
  • c. Chairperson must deposit funds within 5 business days from the close of fundraising activity.
  • d. Disputed totals will be rectified by the bank.
  • e. Chairperson must include fundraising guidelines in fundraising literature.
  • f. Chairperson must identify student or staff member of Springfield Elementary, by name and phone number, as the contact for all fundraising orders.
  • g. All personal and business checks must have a name, address and phone number written on the check or printed